AfriGeneas Military Research Forum Archive

There are records of drummer boys as young as 11-and I have heard rumor of 9-10 year old drummers. 15 was not an uncommon age-and there were enlistments of men in their fifties and beyond, although that was discouraged for fear they wouldn't have enough stamina for the rigors of the battlefield and marches.

If you check records there were lots of enlistees from the forties. Since primary Black enlistment didn't happen till after May 1863-someone who was born in 1846, who enlisted in 1864 would be 17-18, and that was common.